When buyers begin their home search, your listing photos are often their very first impression. Before they ever step through the front door, they’re scrolling through photos and deciding whether your home belongs on their “must-see” list.
The good news? You don’t need a complete remodel or professional staging to make your home photograph beautifully. A little preparation can make a huge difference.
Here are some of our favorite ways to get a home camera-ready.
1. Declutter the Kitchen
BEFORE: Counters filled with appliances, dish racks, paper towels, mail, soap bottles and everyday items.
AFTER: Mostly clear countertops with just one or two simple decorative items.
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms to buyers, and clear countertops help it feel larger and showcase the actual features of the space.
Photography Prep Tip: Put away small appliances, dishes, cleaning supplies, magnets and papers from the refrigerator. A bowl of fruit, plant or simple centerpiece is plenty.
2. Simplify the Living Room
BEFORE: Extra furniture, toys, blankets, cords, remotes and personal belongings throughout the room.
AFTER: A clean, comfortable space with clear walking paths and a few intentional accessories.
You don't want a room to feel empty, but you also don't want buyers focusing on your belongings instead of the house.
Photography Prep Tip: Remove unnecessary furniture, straighten pillows and blankets, hide cords and remotes, and clear off side tables. Less really is more in listing photos.
3. Make Bedrooms Feel Calm and Spacious
BEFORE: Unmade bedding, laundry, items on nightstands and dressers, and plenty of everyday clutter.
AFTER: Crisp bedding, clear surfaces and a simple, welcoming room.
Bedrooms tend to photograph best when they feel peaceful and uncluttered.
Photography Prep Tip: Make the bed neatly, fluff the pillows and clear nightstands and dresser tops. Put away laundry, shoes, charging cords and personal items.
4. Give the Bathroom the “Hotel Treatment”
BEFORE: Toothbrushes, toiletries, bath products, towels and cleaning supplies visible.
AFTER: Clear countertops, neatly folded towels and a sparkling clean bathroom.
Bathrooms are generally smaller spaces, which means even a little clutter can make them look crowded in photos.
Photography Prep Tip: Remove toiletries from the shower and countertops, close the toilet lid, hang fresh towels and give mirrors, faucets and glass a quick polish.
5. Brighten Things Up
BEFORE: Curtains closed, blinds uneven and rooms appearing darker than they really are.
AFTER: Natural light coming through the windows with lamps and overhead lights helping brighten the space.
Bright rooms tend to feel larger, cleaner and more inviting.
Photography Prep Tip: Open curtains and blinds, replace burned-out bulbs and make sure lamps are working before the photographer arrives.
6. Don't Forget the Exterior
BEFORE: Garbage cans, hoses, toys, vehicles, overgrown landscaping or miscellaneous items around the yard.
AFTER: A clean driveway, tidy landscaping and an inviting entrance.
The exterior photo is often the first photo buyers see, so curb appeal matters.
Photography Prep Tip: Move vehicles out of the driveway, hide garbage cans and hoses, pick up toys and debris, sweep the porch and straighten outdoor furniture. If the season allows, fresh mulch or a simple plant near the front door can go a long way.
7. Remove Distractions — Not All Personality
Preparing for photos doesn't mean stripping your home of everything that makes it feel like a home. The goal is simply to help buyers notice the space, layout and features first.
As you're preparing each room, ask yourself:
“Will a buyer notice the room — or the stuff in the room?”
If the answer is the stuff, it's probably worth putting a few more things away.
One Last Trick: Take a Photo With Your Phone
Before photography day, stand in the doorway of each room and take a quick photo with your phone.
It's surprising how often you'll notice something in a picture that you didn't notice while standing in the room — a cord hanging down, a crooked pillow, something sitting on a counter or an item peeking out from underneath the bed.
Think of it as your own mini photography test run.
Getting Ready to Sell?
At the Mulder Group, we don't expect our sellers to figure everything out on their own. Part of preparing a home for the market is helping you determine what is worth doing, what isn't, and how to make your property shine when it goes live online.
Sometimes a few simple changes can completely transform the way a home presents in photos — and help buyers get excited about seeing it in person.
Thinking about selling your home in West Michigan? Contact the Mulder Group and we'll help you build a plan to get your home market-ready.
Call or text Matt Mulder at (269) 468-0440 to get started.
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